Levered safety wringer



Nov. 9, 1965 G. D. coNLEE 3,215,228

LEVERED SAFETY WR1 '.NGER

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LEVERED SAFETY WRINGER Filed Dec. 26, 1963 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR lozfye (ff/9e j x" BY ATTORNEY Nov. 9, 1965 G. D. CONLEE 3,216,228

LEVERED SAFETY WRINGER l Filed Dec. 26, 1963 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 f ATTORNEYS Nov. 9, 1965 G. D. CONLEE LEVERED SAFETY WRINGER 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 26, 1965 MVM: NM. Y MVO hanlll QW @uw \m.\. Nm, HMH: Ihn; mv, |||\5 will MM" NB m NN www 1 ,Hl Htwwimnllw VW|||H Ill Mw Nr k mtl W Hlm IHWIIINM.. 01M) WH H WW v ||||||1I w1 f WHI w Sv www w41 mi .|I| l IIJ v \m. H l V QM, mx. lll i Mn. 1 4 bw MNH INVENTOR Giga/y' l? 7g2/@ ff, Mr 42 ORNEYS Nov. 9, 1965 G. D. CONLEE 3,216,228

LEVERED -SAFETY WRINGER Filed Dec. 26, 1963 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 s 1 I im //y W v Nov. 9, 1965 c5. n. CQNLEE 3,2%228 Filed Deo. N7 Sheets-Shes?I '7 f NIN e INVENTOR. @afge D CIO/@Zee BY f y Y A TTORNE YS United States Patent O 3,216,228 LEVERED SAFETY WRINGER George D. Conlee, Cedar Falls, Iowa, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Lovell Manufacturing Company, Erie, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Dec. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 333,323 6 Claims. (Cl. 68-256) This invention relates to improvements in a levered safety wringer, and more particularly to a wringer of the type embodying a pair of rolls pressurized toward each other during operation, between which rolls wet articles may be passed to have the moisture therein exuded therefrom by roll pressure, the wringer being highly desirable for use in connection with household washing machines, as well as other laundry and drying equipment, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

In the past, many and various types of pressure roll wringer structures for household and commercial laundry appliances have been developed. During the development of these formerly known wringer structures various safety features were incorporated, but formerly known structures, those of which became commercially acceptable, were in most cases devoid of a satisfactory number of safety features. Further, these formerly known wringers embodied an objectionable number of parts and almost invariably included a casting as a housing for the wringer head structure which connects to the drive shaft. The frame structures of wringers heretofore known, fabricated from a number of separate parts, frequently resulted in leakage and quite often required the use of a wide iiipper board in order to secure proper drainage to one side of the wringer. One prime disadvantage of commercial wringer structures heretofore in use was the fact that pressure reset means were disposed in such location that there would most frequently be a direct downward pressure on the outboard end of the wringer, with the resultant danger that if the wringer was outboard of the washing machine body at the time pressure was reset between the rolls such downward pressure on the outboard end of the wringer could cause a complete overturning of the washing machine. Many of these formerly known wringers could be indexed while the rolls were in operation, greatly adding to the possibility of painful injury to the operator. In many of these formerly known wringer structures roll rotation was not stopped upon release of pressure between the rolls. Other disadvantages in wringers heretofore made resided in the fact that the directional shift lever frequently flew up against the hand of an operator owing to detent wear, the structure was such that definite twisting moments occurred during operation, and an objectionable amount of force was necessary to reestablish pressure between the rolls after pressure release. In addition formerly known wringers were objectionably expensive owing to the number of parts involved and the difficult assembly operations entailed.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a wringer and gear head assembly embodying up to 40% less parts than such assemblies heretofore known, without the sacrifice of any desirable safety features or etliciency of operation.

Another important object of the instant invention is the provision of a wringer which performs all functions of wringers heretofore known in a better way, is longer lived, and is far more economical owing t the usage of less parts in the wringer and gear head structure.

Also an object of this invention is the provision of a vroll type wringer wherein pressure is reset between the rolls by the actuation of a toggle linkage operating in a horizontal plane centrally disposed beneath the superposed rolls and which results in the application of pressure Patented Nov. 9, 1965 ICC to those rolls in a vertical plane passing through the axes of the roll shafts.

Another feature of the instant invention is the provision of a roll type wringer embodying an open top leakproof frame embodying a single piece of material shaped to provvide a bottom channel and end stiles extending upwardly therefrom.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a wringer and head assembly provided with easily accessible pressure release bars to release roll pressure in case of an emergency, and embodying structure whereby when a release Ibar is actuated the drive clutch automatically disengages from a gear, .and the directional control lever or shift lever is automatically moved to neutral position whereby roll operation ceases.

A further feature of this invention resides in the provision of a wringer and head assembly, with simple mechanism controlled by a directional shift lever to prevent bodily movement or indexing of the wringer unless that shift lever is in neutral position with the drive clutch disengaged.

Another desideratum of the instant invention is the provision of a squeeze-roll type wringer having a frame embodying a leakproof channel with a relatively small center opening therein for the discharge of water, whereby a relatively narrow ipper may be utilized.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent yfrom the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a fragmentary side elevational view of a wringer and head assembly embodying principles of the instant invention, with parts omitted;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view taken from the left-hand side of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational View taken from the right-hand side of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a central vertical sectional view, with the rolls and other parts shown in elevation, of the wringer with the wringer head omitted;

FIGURE 5 is a bottom plan view of the wringer, with parts omitted, illustrating the pressure `setting lever mechanism in pressure sustaining position;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5, illustrating the pressure setting mechanism in pressure released position;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View through the wringer head, with parts shown in elevation;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View taken substantially as indicated .by the line VIII- VIII of FIGURE 7, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary end elevational View taken from the right-hand side of FIGURE 7, but showing the shift or reverse lever in a diiferent position;

FIGURE l0 is a reduced top plan view of the blank from which the wringer frame is made;

FIGURE l1 is an enlarged top plan view of the completed frame; and

FIGURE l2 is a side elevational view of the cornpleted frame.

As shown on the drawings:

In general, the instant invention comprises a wringer and head assembly including a one-piece frame having a lower horizontal channel and upstanding end stile formations thereon. Upper and lower rollers are mounted for rotation directly above the frame channel, and at each end of the rolls is a spring cage to apply pressure between the rolls. Toggle linkage means are provided below the frame channel for setting pressure between the rolls, and pressure release bars are mounted on each side of the rolls to facilitate pressure release. Connected to one end stile is a head assembly containing the drive gears and drive clutch and which head assembly is also equipped with a reverse directional shift lever or handle and indexing mechanism. Means extend from the pressure release lbars to actuate clutch release mechanism in the head and ,also govern the Voperation of the indexing means. The entire structure is simple and compact and requires a minimum of parts, whereby assemblage is facilitated, and the resultant structure is extremely durable and economical.

The frame The instant wringer and head assembly is provided with an economical one-piece, strong, and leakproof frame. This frame is made from a single blank 1 of suitable metal, as best seen in FIGURE 10, which blank is slotted -as indicated at 2 adjacent each corner thereof, and on opposite ends is provided with cutout portions as indicated at 3. The slots and cutouts, as well as the shape of the entire blank may be provided in a simple stamping operation. With suitable die means the blank is bent or folded to provide a channel 4 having opposed outwardly daring side walls 5 5 with a drain hole 6 in the bottom of the channel surrounded by a depending neck 7. As indicated at 8 8, a portion of the blank is inclined upwardly at each end of the channel 4 to render the channel capable of holding water in a leakproof manner, except for the drain opening 6, and also to provide ,seats for the bearings for the lower roll.

The corner portions of the blank 1 are folded upwardly into end stile formations, the outboard formation being generally indicated by numeral 9, and the inboard formation generally indicated by numeral 10. The outboard stile 9 comprises opposed upstanding plates or brackets 11-11 having the outer margins thereof turned inwardly as indicated at 12 to form an interior socket for a spring cage, and each of the members 11 is provided with an elongated slot 13 through which the means may extend to actuate the springs. The inboard end stile has a similar pair of confronting plates or brackets 14-14 slotted as at 15, and these plates each have an inward bend as indicated at 16 to define a socket for a spring cage, and then extend directly outwardly in confronting brackets 17-17 which connect the frame to the wringer head. From the inner end of each plate 11 and each plate 14 there is a laterally projecting wing 18 provided with an outstanding ear 19 to which the pressure release bars may be pivoted.

The rolls and pressure applying means The mounting of the rolls and the pressure applying springs are best seen in FIGURES l, 4 and 8. Upon suitable block bearings 20 20 positioned in the end stiles on the upwardly sloping end portions 8 8 of the frame channel 4, the shaft 21 of a lower wringer roll 22 is seated. One end 23 of the shaft 21. shaped for driving engagement by means carried in the wringer head projects between the brackets 17-17 at the inboard end of the wringer. An upper roll 24 rests upon the lower roll 22. The shaft 25 of the upper roll is provided with suitable overhead bearings 26 26 carried one each in identical spring cages disposed in the socket formations in the end stiles 9 and 10.

Each spring cage is of a generally known structure, and includes a U-shaped bearing holder 27 from which a pair of elongated rivets 28-28 depend, one on each side of the respective upper bearing 26. Around each of said rivets is a compression spring 29. A slidable cage 30 substantially U-shaped in cross-section, encloses both springs, and is provided with a laterally extending ear 31 on each side thereof, these `ears extending through slots 13 or 15 in the respective end stile formations. At the upper end thereof the cage is provided with an inwardly turned portion 32 overlying the tops of the springs, these portions being suitably apertured to ride up and down over the rivets 28. When downward pressure is brought to bear upon the ears 3]. 31 to move the cage 30 downwardly, the springs 29 are further compressed and through the medium of the rivets 28 force the upper roll downwardly against the lower roll. Preferably the springs 29 are pre-loaded to reduce the force the operator must urge upon the pressure setting means at the start of an operation.

It will be noted that the ears or lugs 31 31 on the spring slide 30 are directly opposite the center line of the spring so that all pressure on the roll is straight down in a vertical plane passing through the axes of the wringer roll shafts, which shafts project between the springs in each cage.

T heV pressure setting or resetting means The mechanism for setting or resetting pressure between the wringer rolls, commonly referred to in the trade as pressure reset means, is best seen in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6. In these gures,pressure is on the rolls in the showings of FIGURES 4 and 5, and roll pressure is released in the showing in FIGURE 6.

The reset mechanism embodies a toggle linkage disposed beneath and at the ends of the frame. The linkage embodies a relatively large at plate-like lever 33 of irregular shape and having open portions 34 where material has been removed for lightness. This lever is centrally apertured and hubbed as indicated at 33a in FIG- URE 4 so the lever may oscillate around the drainage neck 7 of the frame, any suitable bearing means, such as nylon being utilized if necessary. At each end thereof the lever is provided with a hook-like extension 3S to provide a straight edge portion 36, which edges are contacted by pressure release means. A substantially L- shaped toggle link 37 is pivoted at one end to an intermediate portion of the lever 33 by a pin 38. The other end of this Vlink 37 is pivoted by a pin 39 to the central portion of a crossarm 40 of a U-shapeid lever having upstanding arms or wings 41 and 42 which straddle the end stile members 11 11 of the frame to which the wings are pivoted by a through bolt 42a. As best seen in FIGURE 1, each side` arm is provided with an extension carrying an .outwardly extending horizontal lug 43 which overlies the ear 31 on the adjacent spring slide 30.

A'similar toggle linkage i-s connected to the otherside of the flat lever `33, including a simi-lar L-shaped lever 44 pivoted to an Iopposite intermediate portion of the lever 33 by a pin y45 and also pivoted by a lpin 46 to the bottom of another U-shaped pressure lever having upwardly -disposed side arms or wings 48 and 49 each lcarrying a lug 50 to overlie the ears 31-31 of the spring slide at the inboard end ofthe wringer.

The pressure setting toggle linkage is actuated by a substantially horizontally disposed pull rod 51. This rod is slidafble through .an apertured stud 52, AFIGURES 2 and 3, opstanding from one of the end hook formations 35 of the lever 33. A spring 53 is connected to the outer end of the rod and also to a part of a shroud bracket 54 mounted -on the outboard end of the frame. A washer or the equivalent 55 bearing against the stud 52 is purchased to the rod when pulled toward the inboard end of the wringer to lpivot the toggle linkage mechanism from the position Iseen in FIGURE 6 to the position seen in FIG- URE 5 where pressure is applied t-o the rolls. The spring 53 re'tracts Athe rod after it has been operated, so that it will-assume a neutral out-of-the-way position as seen in FIGURE 5.

When the toggle linkage is moved from the position of FIGURE 6 to that of FIGUR-E 5 to apply roll pressure, it wil-l be noted that the links 37 and 44 pivot the U-shaped pressure levers so that the lugs 43-43 on the outboard lever presses downwardly on the ears 31-31 of the outboard spring lcage slide, while simultaneously the lugs 50-50 on the inboard pressure lever force down the ears 31-31 on the inboard spring cage slide, `thereby applying pressure to the rolls. The toggle linkage is of the overcenter type to sustain the pressure on the rolls, as is apparent from the showing in FIGURE 5 wherein the pivot point 45 is to ione side of an imaginary line between the centers of the pivot pins 39 and 46, and the pivot pin 3S is on the opposite side of that imaginary line.

It should be especially noted that the force exerted by the `operator in establishing roll pressure is a horizont-al pull toward the inboard end of the wringer and the leverage mechanism acts around a point at the center of the wringer below the rolls. There is no `downward tipping pressure -at any time regardless of whether the wringer is over the tub of the washing machine or to one side thereof and there is no danger of tipping over the machine by virtue of a downward force by the operato-r in establishing pressure. Further, it will be noted that all pressure on the rolls is straight down on the central vertical plane of the wringer directly on the roll shafts, there are no twisting moments generated at any time, and no power is transferred outside of the fra-me. Also, there can be no oifcenter pull because both sides of the toggle linkage are in pe-rfect balance. Another advantage is the fact that the pressure springs being preloaded lessen the amount of pull the operator need exert to establish pressure.

The pressure release mechanism Since the pressure release means embody identi-cal structures on each side of the wringer, only one such structure need be specifically described herein.

Pressure is released between the rolls by the actuation of a release bar 56 which, as seen best in FIGURE l, is preferably a rectangle formed of a -band of suitable metal. This release bar is pivoted on a through pin S7 to the ears 19-19 on the laterally projecting wings or flanges 18-18 of the frame. The ends of the bar are in abutment as indicated at 58 in FIGURE l, and the 'ends are so held by means of an angular member the upper arm 59 of which may be spot welded or equivalently secured to the bar ends to hold them in abutment, while the other leg `6() of the angle member depends below the bar in abutment with a straight edge 36 of the hooked end portion 35 of the flat lever 33 as best seen in FIGURE 5. Consequently, when the release bar 56 is pushed inwardly at the top or pivoted on the through pin 57, the depending arm 60 forces the end portion of the lever 33 outwardly moving the toggle mechanism out of overcenter position `and releasing the pressure on the rolls.

By means to be later described, actuation of either of the release bars also results in stopping rotation of the rolls and freeing the index pin holding the position of the wringer prior to pressure release.

The zipper assembly The flipper assembly used in conection with the instant wringer and head assembly is mainly conventional except for the comparatively narrow flipper drainboard.

This assembly includes a ring 61 disposed around the drain neck 7 beneath the aforesaid flat lever 33. The ring has a pair of opposed depending ears 62-62 thereon, and is kept in position by a through bolt 63 connected with these ears and passing through the drain neck 7. As seen best in FIGURE 4, a second through bolt 64 passes through the ears 62 below the bolt 61 and pivotally connects a ipper 65 to the ears. This ipper need only be a little wider than the drain neck 7 because of the leakproof frame from which the only exit for the quantity of liquid received in the channel of the frame is through the drain neck 7. Consequently, a much narrower ipper than would be expected for the wringer assembly may be utilized.

The flipper may be automatically tipped in either direction depending upon the direction of rotation of the lower roll 22 by any suitable means such as a loop 66 made of a flexible stainless steel band, which contacts the lower wringer roll and also the flipper and is flexed to tip the flipper by rotation of the lower roll.

The wringer head The wringer head embodied in the instant invention as best seen in FIGURES 1, 3 and 7, embodies far less parts than other commonly -known wringer heads. Heretofore it was common practice for a wringer head to embody a casting in the `form of a housing for the gears, and not only was the expensive casting employed, b-ut also expensive bearings as well. With the instant structure such a casting and costly bearings have been completely eliminated.

The instant head embodies a pair of alloehiral side plates 67 and -68 connected to the end brackets 17--17 of the frame. Between the plates 67 and 68 live wooden bearings are positioned, there being bearings 69, 7() and 71 for gear journals, a bearing 72 for the shift lever spool, and a bearing 73 for the washing machine post on which 'the wringer bodily turns and the index rod. 'These bearings are each held in place by through bolts 74 which also lock the plates against the bearings into one rigid structure. The bearings are wood treated with tung -oil or the equivalent, whereby constant lubrication is provided, and such bearings are extremely long lived as well as being economical.

Conventional gearing is mounted in the head between the plates 67 and 68. This gearing includes a wringer gear 75 which couples to the formation 23 on the end of the lower roll shaft in a known manner. A forward driving gear 76 and a reverse driving gear 77, in mesh with the wringer gear at diametrally opposite locations, float on a drive shaft 78 which connects with any suitable power source for the wringer and the washing machine with which it is associated. A clutch 79 keyed to rotate with the drive shaft and slidable thereon may selectively be moved into engagement with either of the driving gears 76 and 77 depending upon the desired direction of rotation of the wringer rolls. The clutch is moved into engagement with either gear 76 or 77 by means of a grooved dog 80 riding the annular channel of the clutch and which in turn is moved upwardly or downwardly by a pin 81 eccentrically mounted on the spool 82 of a shift lever 83.

In this instance, the shift spool 82 is provided with an annular groove 84 therearound and a diametral hole $5 communicates at each end with the bottom of the groove. This diametral hole 8S is disposed in vertical position when the shift lever or handle 83 is also in vertical or neutral position. An index pin 86 which locks the wringer in a bodily position of adjustment in a known manner to means carried by the washing machine post, has one end thereof riding inside the groove 34, and the other end projecting through and beneath the lower bearing 73. This index pin is connected to a bracket 87 by a cross pin 88, and is thereby constantly urged downwardly into holding position by a compression spring 89 acting against the bracket 87. A thumb lever 90 connected to the bracket is utilized to raise the index pin when a bodily movement of the wringer from one position to another is desired, and it will be noted that this index pin cannot be raised unless the hole is directly in line with it and the driving clutch 79 disengaged.

Means are provided to prevent accidental declutching of the respective drive gear during operation of the wringer rolls. These means include a disk-shaped latch 91 apertured to lit over a attened end 92 on the shift spool 82. As seen in FIGURES 7 and 9 the latch disk is provided with a detent 93 to maintain the clutch in engagement with the gear driving the rolls forwardly, a reverse detent 94 opposite the detent 93, and a neutral detent 95 of lesser length than the others. The latch is constantly urged to neutral position by a tension spring 96 between the latch and the top of the head frame. The latch is held by a trip member 97 which is of channel shape and embraces the frame plates 67 and 68. The sides of the trip 97 are each slotted as indicated at 98 in FIGURE l and the device is held on the frame by one or more studs 99 projecting through the slots, whereby the device is slidable upwardly and downwardly relatively to the frame. An inner angled partition 100 in the trip member extends over the spring 89 which constantly tends to urge the trip member upwardly into latch engaging position. This partition also extends outwardly beneath the latch and is provided with an aperture 101, FIGURE 7, into which any of the detents on the latch may be engaged.

The aforesaid shift lever 83 is utilized to move the latch member and the clutch 79 along therewith into engagement with the desired driving gear. The lower end of the shift lever is laterally flared and shaped to provide a point 102 which rests against the keeper partition 100 when the latch detent 93 is engaged with the keeper, another opposed point 103 to rest against the keeper when the latch detent 94 is in engagement, and a straight edge 104 to rest on the keeper when the lever is in neutral position and the clutch is disengaged. The points 102 and 103 bear against the keeper 100 to one side of the respective engaged detent as seen clearly in FIGURE 9. The flared end of the lever 83 is provided with an opening 105 therein to receive the spool end 92 therein, and is held in position by means of a stud screw 106 engaged in the spool end. The opening 105 is flared outwardly at each end thereof so as to provide denite lost motion relatively to the latch at the start of the movement of the lever. A satisfactory flare angle for this purpose is approximately 71/2 on each side of the vertical.

With such arrangement, assuming the latch to be engaged with the keeper as in FIGURE 9, when the lever is moved clockwise to disengage the latch manually, the flared end of the lever will force down the keeper 100 against the action of the spring 89 and release the latch before the lever actually begins to turn the latch, whereby the latch and lever are prevented from snapping up due to the spring 86 and possibly injuring the hands of the operator.

Automatic means are also provided to immediately stop rotation of the rolls when .pressure is released. As seen in FIGURES 1 and 3, the latch trip slide 97 is provided with a laterally extending lug 107 on each side thereof at the top. An arm 108 secured to each of the release bars 56 has an inwardly turned end 109 which overlies the respective lug 107. When pressure is released by pushing either bar 56 inwardly, the arm 108 forces down the trip slide 97 and releases the latch, thereby moving the shift lever to neutral position and disengaging the clutch from the respective drive gear.

The operation The operation of the instant wringer and head assembly is extremely simple, safe, and efficient. Assuming that the shift lever is in neutral position with the clutch disengaged, the wringer may be bodily indexed by elevating the index pin 86 with the thumb lever 90, the top end of the pin riding upwardly within the hole 85 in the shift spool, indexing of the machine being prevented if the clutch is engaged with either drivingV gear since the index pin cannot then be elevated. The indexing operation may be accomplished before or after pressure is established between the rolls.

In order to establish pressure between the rolls of it is a simple and extremely safe expedient to exert a lateral or horizontal pull upon the rod 51, the necessary pull being lessened by virtue of preloading of the pressure springs. By arrangement of the toggle links and the spring cages, all of the applied pressure is centrally of the wringer rolls, there are no tipping forces or twisting moments created at any time. Regardless of the position `of the wringer at the time presure is set, the pull is toward the inboard end of the wringer and the wringer and Washing machine are in stable condition at all times.

Before or after pressure is applied, the shift lever may be moved for forward or reverse drive of the wringer v rolls.

If it isdesired to release pressure, it is a simple expedient to push on either release bar 56. This not only moves the toggle linkage out of its overcenter position to release the pressure, but at the same time the arm 108 attached to the release bar releases the latch and declutches the roller drive, thereby stopping the rolls, and the shift lever assumes neutral position.

Consequently, the wringer is extremely safe against accidental tipping, the rolls are stopped upon pressure release, and indexing of the wringer is prevented during operation of the rolls.

Further, the wringer is extremely economical by virtue of the few parts involved. For example, the wringer may utilize only 65 to 70 separate parts, whereas commonly known commercial wringers utilize from 110 to parts.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a wringer,

a frame,

a pair of superposed rolls in said frame,

a shaft for each said roll extending therebeyond at each end,

a pair of upright compression springs at each end of said frame positioned to force the rolls together,

said shafts extending between the springs of each pair,

a horizontally disposed overcenter toggle linkage beneath said frame, Y

means to actuate said linkage, and

a pair of upstanding pressure levers pivoted to said linkage and said frame to compress said springs.

2. In a wringer,

a frame,

superposed rolls in said frame,

pressure applying means positioned to apply pressure to said rolls in a vertical plane through the longitudinal center lines of the rolls,

a movable member at each end of the rolls to actuate said pressure applying means,

a horizontally disposed toggle linkage beneath said frame connected to actuate said movable members, and

a pull member operable horizontally to move said toggle linkage to apply pressure to the rolls.

3. In a wringer,

a frame,

superposed rolls in said frame,

pressure applying means positioned to apply pressure to said rolls in a vertical plane through the longitudinal center lines of the rolls,

a movable member at each end of the rolls to actuate said pressure applying means,

said frame having a drain opening defined by a depend ing neck centrally in the bottom thereof, and

a horizontally balanced toggle linkage movable about said neck and operable to actuate said movable members to apply pressure to said rolls.

4. In a wringer,

a frame,

superposed rolls in said frame,

pressure applying means positioned to apply pressure to said rolls in a vertical plane through the longitudinal center lines of the rolls,

a movable member at each end of the rolls to actuate said pressure applying means,

said frame having a drain opening dened by a depending neck centrally in the bottom thereof,

a horizontally balanced toggle linkage movable about said neck and operable to actuate said movable members to apply pressure to said rolls,

said toggle linkage being of the overcenter type, and

a pull member operable in a horizontal direction to actuate said toggle linkage,

5. In a Wringer,

a one-piece frame including a bottom channel and upstanding end stile formations shaped to provide spring cage sockets,

a spring cage in each said socket,

superposed rolls in said frame,

a pivoted member at each end of said frame movable to compress said springs to apply pressure to said rolls,

said channel having a central drain opening,

a depending neck around said opening,

a toggle linkage including a lever oscillatable about said neck and a link connected thereto and to one of said pivoted members at each side of said lever, and

means to actuate said toggle linkage to apply pressure to said rolls.

6. In a wringer and head assembly,

a frame,

a superposed rolls in said frame,

a head connected to said frame,

driving gears for said rolls in said head,

a clutch in said head movable from neutral position to a selected one of said driving gears to operate said rolls in a desired direction,

a spool to operate said clutch,

a non-circular end portion on said spool,

a latch member apertured to receive said end portion and having spaced projections thereon,

resilient means biasing said latch member to neutral position,

a resiliently biased keeper to engage a selected projection of said latch member,

a shaft lever to actuate said spool and having an aperture therein to receive said spool end,

spaced points on said lever, and

said lever aperture being larger than said spool end portion to provide suficient lost motion when said lever is moved for one of said points to release said keeper before the spool is rotated.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,895,403 1/33 Swanson 68-271 2,019,881 11/35 Weisbrod.

2,050,013 8/36 Misner 68-244 2,266,498 12/41 Kaufman 68-254 2,385,769 10/45 Altorfer 68-263 X 2,446,477 8/48 Kauiman 68--255 X 2,548,768 4/51 Briggs et al. 68-254 2,595,147 4/52 Kauffman 68--255 2,962,887 12/60 Platt 68-253 WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS O. MAASSEL, Examiner. 

1. IN A WRINGER, A FRAME, A PAIR OF SUPERPOSED ROLLS IN SAID FRAME, A SHAFT FOR EACH SAID ROLL EXTENDING THEREBEYOND AT EACH END, A PAIR OF UPRIGHT COMPRESSION SPRINGS AT EACH END OF SAID FRAME POSITIONED TO FORCE THE ROLLS TOGETHER, SAID SHAFTS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE SPRINGS OF EACH PAIR, A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED OVERCENTER TOGGLE LINKAGE BENEATH SAID FRAME, MEANS TO ACTUATE SAID LINKAGE, AND A PAIR OF UPSTANDING PRESSURE LEVERS PIVOTED TO SAID LINKAGE AND SAID FRAME TO COMPRESS SAID SPRINGS. 